Multiform envelopes



Aug. 25, 1970 v. J. SAWDON MULTI FORM ENVELOPE S 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 17, 1968 si lA Aug. 5, 1970 v. J. SAWDON 3,525,469

MUL'IIFORM ENVELOPES Filed 001;. 17, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 25, 1910 Filed ON. 17, 1968 SAWDON Y MULTIFORM ENVELOPES 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent Ofice 3,525,469 MULTIFORM ENVELOPES Victor J. Sawdon, New York, N.Y., assignor to Kimberly- Clark Corporation, Neenah, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 17, 1968, Ser. No. 768,276 Int. Cl. B65d 27/06 US. Cl. 22973 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved multiform envelope of the type which includes an outer mailing section or cover and an integral inner section adapted to be detached to form a return envelope. The improved structure comprises a wraparound sealing flap for the return envelope which permits the envelope to be opened by manual or machine slitting without deleteriously affecting the copy, remittance, or order form which the envelope may contain. Provision is also made for jumbo-sized flaps on the envelope to provide additional space for messages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Multiform envelopes comprising an outer cover and an integral inner section adapted to be detached to form a return envelope are well known in the art. US. Pat. 2,340,700 shows one such construction in which the inner detachable section comprising the return envelope has a pocket in the lower portion and a closure flap forming the upper portion. The flap is provided with a gummed area on its inner surface and near its upper edge. After the multiform envelope has been mailed and the return envelope detached by the recipient, the latter may be sealed by moistening the gummed portion of the flap and pressing it against the face of the pocket near its lower edge. In order for the second recipient to open this type of return envelope, it is necessary to cut or slit the flap along its fold line, or tear open the flap at the gummed seal. Either of these opening operations tends to mutilate the flap and/ or pocket portions of the return envelope and may make any message which may appear on those portions illegible, or difiicult to decipher. The improved construction as described herein overcomes these disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention comprises an improved multiform envelope in which the sealing flap of the return envelope section is so constructed that it wraps around the pocket portion of the return envelope and is sealed against the underside of the pocket, rather than against its face, as in the prior art, to provide a return envelope having the appearance and function of a regular one -way envelope. The improved construction comprises the usual cover section and an integral return envelope section formed from a single sheet of paper, with the two sections separated from each other by a perforated fold and tear line in the conventional manner. The cover section has a top body panel; a transversely coextensive bottom panel of substantially the same shape as the body panel, and of substantially the same or slightly less area than the body panel; and a transversely coextensive top sealing flap of less vertical height than the body panel. The return envelope section, attached to the cover section by a perforated line for detaching purposes, has an upper panel vertically coextensive with the top body panel of the cover section and of substantially the same area; a lower panel transversely coextensive with the upper panel of the envelope section and vertically coextensive with the bottom 3,525,469 Patented Aug. 25, 1970 panel of the cover section and of substantially the same as, or slightly less area than, the upper panel of the return envelope section; a lower flap transversely coextensive with said lower panel and of substantially the same area as the lower panel, with the lower flap folded upwardly over the lower panel and bonded thereto along its vertical edges to form a pocket; and an upper sealing flap transversely coextensive with the upper panel but only partially vertically coextensive with the top sealing flap of the cover section. Fold lines are provided between each of the panels and flaps. The upper half of the top sealing flap and the face of the upper sealing flap are provided with a suitable adhesive, preferably of the remoistenable type.

When used for the initial mailing, the entire assembly is folded inwardly along the vertical line of perforation separating the cover section from the return envelope section so that the juxtaposed upper flap, upper panel and pocket portion of the return envelope section are folded over against the cover section to overlie the top sealing flaps, the top body panel and the bottom panel respectively, of the cover portion. The bottom sections are folded over the top sections, and the top sealing flap is then folded over and around the bottom panel of the cover section. The gummed portion of the top sealing flap of the cover section extends beyond the upper edge of the upper sealing flap of the return envelope section and is sealed to the outer face of the bottom panel of the cover section. The gummed portion of the upper sealing flap preferably comprises spaced dots of adhesive for easy opening.

After the cover section of the initial mailing piece is opened by the recipient, the return envelope may be detached along the vertical perforated line, separating the two sections, and is ready for reuse as a separate envelope. The upper panel of the return envelope so provided is folded over the lower pocket and the gummed flap then folded around the bottom fold of the pocket and sealed to the outer side of the lower panel. Thus when the return envelope is opened by slitting or cutting along the fold line of the upper sealing flap, the face of the upper panel of the return envelope as well as the face of the pocket remains unaffected and its entire surface may thus be used for a written message or the like.

In another form of the envelope the cover section may have additional side flaps vertically coextensive with the top body panel and bottom panel and of a transverse width which is substantially the same width as the associated panel of the cover section. These side flaps provide additional space for advertising or promotional messages, and when so used are folded inwardly for mailing purposes before the return envelope section is folded thereover.

It is a principal object of this invention therefore to provide an improved multiform envelope of. integral construction in which the return envelope is provided with a wrap-around sealing flap which permits opening the return envelope by slitting or cutting without mutilating the contents.

It is an additional object to provide a unitary multiform envelope of more utilitarian function.

Still another object is to provide a multiform envelope with supplementary side flaps for additional copy.

The above and other features, objects and advantages attendant the improved envelope of this invention will become apparent by reference to the following specifications and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a plan view of the unitary blank from which one embodiment of the improved multiform envelope is formed.

FIG. 1A illustrates the return envelope in the process of being detached from the cover section.

FIG, illustrates in perspective the return envelope section of the FIG. 1 multiform envelope after is has been detached and is in the process of being folded for mailing.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the return envelope with the sealing flap ready to be sealed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sealed return envelope.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of the multiforrn envelope before folding for mailing.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a modification of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a unitary envelope blank, cut and scored to provide a cover section 12 and a return envelope section 13. The two sections are separated by a vertically disposed, easy-tear line 14 which may be perforated, scored, creased or otherwise prepared in a known manner. Cover section 12 comprises a top body panel 15, a bottom panel 16 transversely coextensive with top body panel 15, and a transversely coextensive top sealing flap 17 of less vertical height than the vertical dimension of top body panel 15. The outer corners 18 of sealing flap 17 may be cut diagonally as shown, or squared off. The upper half of sealing flap 17 is provided with a suitable adhesive, in this case a remoistenable adhesive represented by spots 27.

Return envelope section 13 attached to cover section 12 by tear line 14, comprises an upper panel 19 vertically coextensive with top body panel and of substantially the same width as said body panel, a lower panel 20 vertically coextensive with bottom panel 16 and of substantially the same width as said bottom panel, a lower flap 21 transversely coextensive with lower panel 20 and of slightly less width than said lower panel; and an upper sealing flap 22 of substantially the same width as upper panel 19 but of less height than top sealing flap 17, and therefore only partially vertically coextensive therewith. The face of upper sealing flap 22 is also provided with a suitable adhesive coating.

Lower flap 21 of the blank is folded upwardly as indicated by arrow 23 to assume the position shown by dotted line 24, and sealed to lower panel 20 by adhesive 25 or other means to provide a pocket, for return envelope section 13.

In use, return envelope section 13 is folded over along line 14 onto cover section 12. The bottom portion is folded up on lines 26 and 28 and top sealing flap 17 folded around fold line 26 and sealed on the back side of top body panel 15 by gummed spots 27 for mailing. Flap 17 may alternatively be provided with a continuous line of gum along its entire upper edge instead of merely using gummed spots 27, as shown. Spaced gummed spots are preferred, however, for easy opening.

After the envelope has been mailed, and opened by the recipient, the latter tears off return envelope section 13 to separate it from cover section 12, as indicated in FIG. 1A.

The recipient then fills out his order, or any other suitable information on panels 19 and 21, and may also insert an additional message in the pocket provided.

The return envelope is then folded as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4. As shown, panel 19 is folded over the pocket formed by flap 21, and sealing flap 22 is folded around the bottom of the pocket to be sealed against the back of panel 20. Upon mailing and receipt by the new recipient, the envelope may then be slit open in the usual manner by said recipient along top edge 29, without injury to the contents of the pocket, or to the copy on panels 19 and 21.

FIG. 5 shows a modified version of the improved multiform envelope in which jumbo'sized flaps 30 and 31 are added to the envelope blank to provide additional space for advertising or promotional messages. In use these jumbo-sized flaps are first folded over onto cover section 12 along fold line 32, before folding return envelope section 13 in place along line 14 and sealing the mailer.

FIG. 6 shows a modified version of the multiform envelope with jumbo-sized flaps similar to those shown in FIG. 5. In this version, bottom panel 160, lower flap 21a and its adjacent lower panel 20a, and lower side flap 31a are of less height than the respective cooperating top body panel 15a, upper panel 19a, and upper side flap 30a. Thus when the envelope blank is folded along lines 26a and 28a, bottom edge 41 of the pocket formed in the envelope section will fall adjacent score line 40, and when the blank is folded for mailing, upper sealing flap 27a will remain flat. The vertical dimension of top sealing flap 17a is required to be sufficient to extend past fold line 41 when folded thereover, in order that it may be sealed to the back of lower panel 20a when folded for mailing. While sealing flap 22a in this embodiment is not folded for the initial mailing, it will nevertheless serve as a wraparound sealing flap for the return envelope.

As indicated previously, the addition of a wrap-around sealing flap to the return envelope section of a multiform envelope adds considerable utilitarian function to the improved construction.

Suitable changes, modifications, and variations may be made in the described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved multiform envelope structure comprising a cover section and an integral pocket-forming return envelope section manually separable from said cover section; said cover section comprising a top body panel, a bottom panel and a top sealing flap; said return envelope section comprising an upper panel, a lower panel, a lower flap and an upper sealing flap; said cover section and said return envelope section being of substantially the same width and joined to each other by a vertical tear line; said upper panel being vertically coextensive with said top body panel; said lower panel being vertically coextensive with said bottom panel; said lower flap being folded over said lower panel and attached adjacent the edges thereof to form a pocket; and said upper sealing flap being transversely coextensive with said upper panel and only partially coextensive in the vertical dimension with said top sealing flap; an upper portion of said top sealing flap thereby protruding vertically a substantial distance above the horizontal extension of a line coincident with the upper edge of said upper sealing flap whereby said top sealing flap will protrude beyond said upper sealing flap when folded thereover for mailing.

2. The envelope of claim 1 in which said top sealing flap is provided with a gummed area on the protruding upper portion thereof.

3. The envelope of claim 2 in which said gummed area comprises spaced spots of adhesive.

4. The envelope of claim 1 in which said top body panel and said bottom panel have side flaps attached thereto by a vertical fold line.

5. The envelope of claim 4 in which each of said side flaps are vertically coextensive with its associated adjacent top body panel and bottom panel.

6. The envelope of claim 5 in which each of said side flaps is of substantially the same width as its associated panel portion.

7. The envelope of claim 1 in which the face of said upper sealing flap is coated with a remoistenable adhesive.

8. An improved multiforrn envelope structure comprising a cover section, an integral pocket-forming envelope section manually separable from said cover section, and upper and lower side flaps on said cover section extending outward therefrom on a side opposite from said envelope section; said cover section comprising a top body panel, a bottom panel and a top sealing flap; said return envelope section comprising an upper panel, a lower panel, a lower flap folded over said lower panel to form a pocket, and an upper sealing flap; said cover section, said return envelope section and said side flaps being of substantially the same width; said return envelope section and said side flaps being joined to opposite sides of said cover section, said envelope section joined thereto by a vertical tear line and said flaps joined thereto by a vertical fold line; said lower flap, bottom panel, and lower panel and pocket being of less vertical height than the respective cooperating upper flap, top panel and upper panel; said upper sealing flap comprising the top portion of the upper panel of said envelope section which portion protrudes above said lower panel and pocket when said lower panel and pocket are folded over said upper panel; said top sealing flap being of suflicient vertical dimension to overlap said lower panel when folded thereover for mailing.

9. The envelope of claim 8 in which the top sealing flap is provided with spaced spots of adhesive along the upper half thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,001,489 5/1935 Elbaum 22973 2,158,528 5/1936 Sawdon 22992.7 3,061,173 10/1962 Sawdon 22973 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 22992.7 

